VEGF-C is associated with lymphatic status and invasion in oral cancer

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 103 - 108
• Main Authors: Siriwardena, B S M S, Kudo, Y, Ogawa, I, Udagama, M N G P K, Tilakaratne, W M, Takata, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01.01.2008; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cancer; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Disease Progression; Gene Expression; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lymphangiogenesis; Lymphatic Metastasis; Lymphatic system; Lymphatic Vessels - pathology; Medical sciences; Metastasis; Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Neoplasm - genetics; Studies; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C - metabolism; Japan; Lymphatic system; Oral cancer; Stomatology; Lymphatic; Tumorous infiltration; Malignant tumor; Invasion; Oral cavity; Anatomic pathology; Association; Vascular endothelium growth factor; Vascular endothelial growth factor C; Oral cavity disease; Cancer
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2007.047662

Background:Nodal metastasis is a major prognostic indicator for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression. Recently, it has been revealed that lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-C and its receptor Flt-4 play an important role for invasion and metastasis in cancer cells.Aim:To examine VEGF-C expression and its correlation with lymphatic status, including the number of lymph vessels and lymphatic invasion, tumour invasion and metastasis in OSCC.Methods:Intratumoural and peritumoural lymphatic vessels were examined using D2-40 in 54 OSCC cases and correlated with VEGF-C expression and clinicopathological findings. The histological pattern of invasion and pathological findings were compared.Results:High expression of VEGF-C was frequently observed in OSCC and was associated with increased number of lymph vessels and lymphatic invasion. VEGF-C was well correlated with invasion pattern and metastasis.Conclusions:Results suggest that VEGF-C may play an important role for lymphangiogenesis and invasion in the metastatic process and can be a strong predicting factor for metastasis of OSCC.